Episode 024 - The Courage to Collaborate and Reach 10 Million Young People w/ Ray Chang

In this engaging episode, Christopher Wesley sits down with Ray Chang, Executive Director of the TENx10 Initiative, to talk about the future of the Church and the bold goal of reaching 10 million young people over the next 10 years. Ray shares how his global upbringing, ministry background, and work in higher education led him to champion a collaborative movement for youth discipleship.

Together, they explore the urgent challenges churches face—burnout, programming fatigue, lack of diversity—and how embracing contextual, relational, and collaborative ministry can reinvigorate the Church. Ray emphasizes that sustainable change requires discernment, shared leadership, and a willingness to reimagine our models without discarding what’s sacred.

Listeners will hear reflections on the Future Focus Church framework, ministry “machines,” church hierarchy, spiritual nourishment for Gen Z, and why real transformation happens not through content alone, but through authentic community.

Takeaways

• TENx10 is a collaborative effort to help 10 million young people make faith matter in the next decade.
• Ray's passion for youth ministry grew out of seeing faith drift in college students and the need to go younger.
• The Future Focus Church framework focuses on young people, kingdom diversity, and loving our neighbors.
• Churches often operate like machines, leading to unnecessary burnout and unsustainable programming.
• Ministry leaders need time and space to reflect and reassess what’s truly essential.
• Change must be approached slowly, thoughtfully, and in community—especially for new leaders.
• Hierarchy isn’t inherently bad—it can provide safety, accountability, and theological grounding when done well.
• Collaboration across differences invites deeper discernment and innovation in ministry.
• Trends fade. Transformation is relational, contextual, and Spirit-led.
• Young people long for a Church that is a reliable source of spiritual nourishment in both dry and abundant seasons.
  
  

CONNECT WITH RAY
Tenx10 Website
Instagram: @tenx10collab
LinkedIn: Raymond Chang

RAY RECOMMENDS

• Future Focus Church (by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Ray Chang) 
• When Life Gives You Tangerines (Korean Drama on Netflix)
• Embrace spiritual abstinence—quiet, presence, and intentional slowing as a counter to constant noise
• Leadership Advice: Go slow. Know your community before trying to change it.
  
  

Enhance Your Listening with The Church Podcast + Subscription.

Dive deeper into your ministry journey with our premium subscriptions. Enjoy episodes your way, with added benefits to enrich your experience.

The Church Podcast + | $6/month

• Ad-free episodes
• Early access
• Subscription to M2GO
• Producer credits on video episodes
• 10% off next custom t-shirt order from 4 Marks Printing

Subscribe Today

Elevate your podcast experience and support our mission to do church better. Visit thechurchpodcast.org and join our community of dedicated listeners.

Recorded on Riverside - HERE

A Little From Our Sponsors

SHOP SOCK RELIGIOUS: Evangelize with funny Catholic shirts and epic saint socks that you can buy at sockreligious.com. Use CHURCHPOD and get 10% off your purchase.

GET CUSTOM GEAR for your next ministry event from our partner 4 Marks Printing. They make ministry and evangelization easier! Visit 4marksprinting.com/churchpod for more.

MYM MERCH: Show off some humor and what you do with awesome t-shirts from Marathon Youth Ministry’s Store. Visit HERE to see what we have.